KCHA Sports Report (4/19)

Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker says junior Amani Jones would be the starter at middle linebacker if the Hawkeyes had a game this weekend. Iowa closes out spring drills with a practice on Friday night. Jones was listed as the back up at weakside linebacker enter spring but has excelled since his move to the middle.

Parker says the other starters right now at linebacker are senior Aaron Mends and sophomore Nick Niemann. The Hawkeyes must replace three senior linebackers from a year ago and Parker says experience up front and in the secondary will help in the transition.

We now move across the state for a peak at the Iowa State Cyclone Linebacker situation. A solid spring has put O’Rien Vance in the hunt for middle linebacker for the Cyclones. The redshirt freshman from Cedar Rapids Washington is part of a crowded field to replace Joel Lanning.